Julia Alvarez Biography
Julia Alvarez could have died in the Dominican Republic, but her family escaped in time. Though Alvarez was born in New York City, her parents moved back to the Dominican Republic when she was three-months-old. Twice her parents had to flee to the United States to get away from the ruthless dictatorship of Raphael Trujillo. Alvarez’s father, who was involved in an underground movement to rid the Dominican Republic of Trujillo, was a target for assassination.
Although Alvarez has lived most of her life in the States, the novelist dedicates much of her writing to her Dominican roots. She escaped a devastating political regime in her country, learned to deal with prejudice against immigrants in the States, conquered a new language, and found a way to make a living through her favorite thing to do—writing. Not only a great author, Alvarez is a survivor.
Facts and Trivia
- Alvarez’s first novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, was not published until the author was forty-one. “Be patient,” she tells young writers.
- Alvarez lives on an organic farm with her husband, Bill Eichner. The couple have developed a sustainable co-operative in the Dominican Republic, where they also run a school to promote literacy.
- Alvarez claims that having to learn a new language (English) when she was ten years old helped her writing because she had to pay so much attention to words.
- In 1998, Alvarez published a collection of essays, Something to Declare, covering details about her writing life, which she claims has not changed in the past decade.
- Alvarez’s novel In the Time of the Butterflies is based on the lives of Dominican Republic women, founders of the underground group Alvarez’s father belonged to. These women were not as lucky as the Alvarez family. They were brutally murdered.
Biography
Julia Alvarez, an acclaimed author, spent her childhood surrounded by the vibrant culture of the Dominican Republic, even though she was born in the United States. Her rich early experiences with family and storytelling laid the foundation for her literary passions. As an adult, Alvarez has drawn from these formative years to craft stories that resonate deeply with themes of identity and language.
Early Life and Cultural Influences
Though born in the United States, Julia Alvarez moved with her family to the Dominican Republic when she was just a newborn. Her early life was steeped in the cultural richness of her parents' homeland, offering her a robust exposure to an extensive family network. Her father, one among numerous siblings, hailed from a family notorious for its "shabbily genteel" status, marked by both legitimate and informal relationships. This expansive household, including long-serving family servants, was a hotbed of storytelling—a tradition that captivated young Julia and sparked her early interest in writing.
Political Tensions and Migration
Living two hours from the Dominican capital, the Alvarezes faced growing political pressure under the regime of Generalisimo Rafael Trujillo Molina, the dictator who rose to power in 1930. Initially, they were tolerated due to their perceived political neutrality, as Julia's grandfather had even served as a delegate to the United Nations. However, when her father joined a conspiracy to depose Trujillo, the family's safety was compromised. Forced to flee in August 1960 to avoid arrest and potential execution, they sought refuge in the United States.
Adjustment to a New Life
At ten years old, Julia was uprooted from a familiar cultural environment where traditional gender roles were the norm. Upon arriving in New York, her family faced economic hardships exacerbated by her father's inability to practice medicine immediately. This sudden change from a life of relative comfort in the Dominican Republic to a modest existence in a cramped Queens apartment was challenging. Yet, it was during this period that Alvarez wrote her novel "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents", reflecting on their immigrant experiences.
Linguistic Duality and Identity
Alvarez’s story is intricately tied to the linguistic challenges she faced. In New York, a Catholic school teacher discerned her linguistic talent and encouraged her to master English. As she grew more proficient, Alvarez found herself speaking Spanish with an American accent, which alienated her from her Dominican heritage. The loss of her native linguistic fluency became a poignant theme in her work, especially evident when she returned to the Dominican Republic after Trujillo's assassination.
Academic Pursuits and Literary Beginnings
Julia Alvarez’s educational journey began at the Carol Morgan School in the Dominican Republic, led by a dear family friend. Upon returning to the U.S., she attended various public and parochial schools before entering the prestigious Abbot Academy in New England. She then pursued higher education at Connecticut College, later transferring to Middlebury College, where she graduated summa cum laude. Her passion for writing was evident early on, leading her to enroll in Syracuse University's creative writing program, where she earned a master's degree in 1975.
Early Career and Poetic Interests
Alvarez embarked on an intriguing career path after her master's, conducting poetry workshops in nursing homes, schools, and prisons under the Kentucky Arts Commission. This experience was instrumental in her development, culminating in opportunities to teach poetry workshops for the elderly in North Carolina. She further honed her craft at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. Her teaching career kicked off with a position at Phillips Andover Academy, and later, she gained valuable teaching experience as a visiting assistant professor at the University of...
(This entire section contains 819 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
Vermont.
Professional Accomplishments
Alvarez's summer residency at Yaddo, a renowned artists' retreat, marked a turning point, allowing her to focus on her writing. Her teaching career progressed with appointments at George Washington University and the University of Illinois, before she returned to Middlebury College as a professor and writer-in-residence. Her first poetry collection, "Homecoming", published in 1984, heralded the beginning of her literary success.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
In 1989, Julia Alvarez married Bill Eichner, an ophthalmologist, and they settled on a farm near Middlebury. Beyond her literary endeavors, she and Eichner invested in a coffee plantation in the Dominican Republic, where they also established a school for workers' children, highlighting their commitment to education and community development.
Prolific Literary Career
Following her marriage, Alvarez entered a prolific period in her writing career. Her debut novel, "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents", garnered critical acclaim, winning the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award for Literature. This success was followed by "In the Time of the Butterflies", a gripping historical novel based on the tragic fates of the Mirabel sisters, victims of Trujillo's tyranny, which was even adapted into a film. Alvarez continued to explore Dominican history and culture through children's literature, such as "Before We Were Free" and "The Secret Footprints", ensuring the stories of the past reached younger audiences.